SDP Refutes Reports of Withdrawal from Ekiti Governorship Race
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed reports that it pulled out of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.
In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said that SDP’s candidate, Isaac Alade, remains firmly in the contest and is duly recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Aiyenigba urged voters to ignore what he described as a false withdrawal notice circulated by “political jobbers.”
Party’s Assurance to the Electorate
He quoted the National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Gombe, and the National Working Committee, stating that the SDP is on the ballot and that Alade, the validly nominated candidate who signed the INEC Peace Pact, remains strongly positioned to win the election.
Accusations of Misinformation and INEC Obstruction
The SDP accused unnamed individuals of spreading misinformation aimed at misleading voters ahead of the poll. It also claimed that INEC refused to allow the party to upload the names of its polling‑unit agents, despite allegedly providing access codes to the SDP national secretariat.
Aiyenigba said INEC officials failed to open the portal required for the upload, adding that such actions reveal an unhidden bias that could undermine the credibility of the election.
Commitment to Transparent Governance
The party reaffirmed its dedication to the election, describing itself as a credible alternative capable of delivering good governance, equitable socio‑economic development, and shared prosperity to Ekiti residents.
The SDP also pledged to continue advocating for transparent and credible elections across Nigeria.
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